Now, perhaps more than ever, looking after your mental health at work is crucial. It’s been a really tricky few years with many challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic, political instability, and now the cost-of-living crisis. The truth is, our mental health is impacted by all parts of our life. And as we spend more than a third of our time working (for small businesses owners that time is likely to be higher) taking care of your wellbeing at work has never been more important. And the good news is, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Making small changes can have…
Author: sme-admin
The IPO is launching a questionnaire for SME, small-cap and mid-cap businesses on Standard Essential Patents.The Government wants to hear views from SME, small-cap and mid-cap businesses on the current Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) framework. This will help the Government ensure that the ecosystem around SEPs is functioning effectively and striking the right balance for entities involved.They particularly want to hear from those involved with the development or production of interoperable products or services that use technical standards. This will inform on issues such as: Do you have sufficient information on how your innovation relates to SEPs? Is the current system fair…
New research finds half of UK homeowners don’t have enough internal space. The new study conducted by self storage provider, Ready Steady Store, surveyed over 1,000 homeowners to understand their storage habits and needs. The results showed that despite a fifth of respondents refusing to sell any items second-hand to declutter their homes, 50% still believed they needed additional space. This research comes as the Bank of England debates further increases in its base rate, which have forced interest and resulting mortgage rates to a 15-year high. As such, increasing numbers of homeowners are unlikely to be able to upscale their properties…
Dr Andres Perez Ruiz at The University of Law Business School shares his watch outs for the 2023/24 tax year The total number of SMEs in the UK fell in 2022 by around 1.4%, following a 6.5% drop the previous year. As SMEs continue to face the backlash from Covid and cost of living crisis, many will be carefully planning for the 2023/24 tax year to ensure they can prosper. The Chancellor’s latest budget included several measures aimed at boosting the economy by providing support to SMEs and small business owners. With the right guidance and advice, there are opportunities…
International motivational speaker and author of Business Networking for Dummies Stefan Thomas is holding a number of one-day workshop where he’ll coach individuals on how to speak on a public stage and how to find clients who will pay for strong speakers. Stefan Thomas is an international keynote speaker and trainer and has spoken in front of audiences from two to 2500 people. He’s been a paid public speaker since 2010 and runs his business from Oxfordshire. “People with a message or expertise have no idea about how to start speaking in the public arena and I can help them…
Despite the Davina effect, those suffering from the menopause have suffered two blows from the government. First the rejection of a trial for menopause leave in England and second not recognising the menopause as a “protected characteristic” for which a person shouldn’t be discriminated. Melanie Stancliffe, Partner in the Employment team at Cripps provides some insight into why that decision was made and what more is needed to support employees through the menopause Both decisions fly in the face of addressing staff shortages and keeping talent in work. The Women and Equalities Committee heard evidence of dismissal and resignations due to debilitating symptoms. There was…
Want to make the best of hybrid working in your business? Digital solutions specialist Caine Harrison shares his tips so your business can excel in the hybrid working world in this edition of Connected Thinking with Virgin Media O2 Business. It’s no secret – hybrid working has taken root in medium businesses across the country. In fact, in our research report ‘Medium businesses: Fuelling the UK’s economic engine’, we found that just 25% of employees’ time is now spent in the office, with the rest being spread across co-working spaces, public spaces such as cafes, and their own homes. Employee…
Protecting the interests of a business is a top priority for any entrepreneur or company. However, with the dynamic nature of the job market and increasing competition, retaining top talent and safeguarding your business can become challenging. This is where employee restrictions or restrictive covenants come into play. These agreements can effectively limit the potential damage a former employee can cause to a business. In this article, we’ll dive into the basics of employee restrictions and explore the steps to negotiate fair and enforceable agreements that can protect your business from unwanted risks. What is a restrictive covenant? A restrictive…
April is National Stress Awareness Month and it’s an important time to recognise the widespread impact of stress on our lives, especially at work. Whatever the source, it’s essential to acknowledge and address stress in order to mitigate its negative effects. In this article, Judith Quin, an award-winning vocal-confidence coach, who launched her business, Your Whole Voice, seven years ago comments on possible sources of employee stress and offers tips to employers on how to manage it. “We’re all much more aware of our stress levels nowadays. But stress is still a major problem for many of us. Statistics published…
With recent events at Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse rocking international finance systems, the experts at global supply chain risk management solution, Resilinc, are urging UK businesses to collaborate with suppliers to reduce uncertainty. This instability at major international banking institutions comes on the back of an already turbulent time for businesses. Resilinc’s EventWatchAI risk monitoring platform reported a 271% year-on-year increase between 2021 and 2022 in bankruptcies, plus a 46% increase in corporate restructuring and 77% increase in leadership changes during the same time period. In response Resilinc is outlining five strategies businesses can employ to mitigate financial risk across their…